Cloth handling machine



June 9, 1931. I R, A. OESMAN 1,809,213

CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18 1926 8 Shts-Shet 1 InventorFudo/pfi fl 09.5mm.

y Attorney June 9, 1931.-

R. A. OESMAN CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet4 Inventor Attorney 7 June 9, 1931.. v QESMAN 1,809,213

CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE I 7 :Filed Sjept. $8, '1926 '8 Sheets- Sheet. 5

Jun 9, 1931.. QESMAN 1,809,213

CLOTH ANDLIN MACHINE Inventor I? 17. Owl/2'00 Attorney June 3 R. A.OESMAN CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed Sept. 18, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7Attorney June 9, 1931. R. A. OESMAN 1,809,213

' CLOTH HANDLING MACHINE Filed SBPB- 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 .95 Inventorfiadai/i /Z 066M012 4 I: I" I Attor ey ig g z automatically feed thecloth'to a suitable Patented June 9, 1931 r, I r

- as PT;

'RUDOLI'H A. OESIVZAN, IBEGUKLYN, NEW YORK" I cnorn HAnnLinG ACHINEApplication filedse ptember 18, 1926. Seria1,No. 136,366;-

This invention relates to improvements in same to the proper length,with the nap alcloth handling machines and additionally to Ways in thesame direction.

a machine adapted to lay out predetermined This inventioncontemplatestheprovision lengths of cloth for suitings on a table" or of a machinewhich Will perform this Work other support. in a highly efficient andeconomical'manner, 55-

In clothing factories and the like, Where in order toconsiderably'increase the produclarge numbers of ready to Wear suits aretion of suiting and at the sametime reduce tailored, it is customary totake a bolt of the cost incident to the operation of'cuttingv cloth andlay it out on acutting table in pres In the provision of this'machine,it is condetermined lengths and in superimposed retemplated to produce asubstantially greater 60 lation, in one, two, or three suit lengths andoutput for a single cutting table than has i sometimes more, from Whichcutter afterbeen heretofore attainable, and as a result, Wardscuts apredetermined number of suits the amount of clothspace for the cuttingopof certain sizes and With little or no Waste. eration may beconsiderably reduced, through In cuttingseveral lengths ofcloth and laythe'useof a reduced number of tables'for a 65 ing the, cloth insuperimposed relation on] pr d t rmin d out ut of cut'suiting.

the table, it is necessary that the nap ofall The invention comprehendsadditlonal im layers be in the same direction, so that the provements inthe details of construction and I suit cut from'the cloth Will hav e naparrangement of. parts, in orde'r toobtain a running in the properdirection. It is come i l a d fli i t hi 11 f hi h '70 monly experiencedin these factories that more particularly pointed out in the followthe,cutters Who are highly paid experts in ing detailed description andclaims directed thi lin f il to g the p 0f e cloth to the preferred formof the invention, it bee the right 'd-U to a re of giv- 'ingunderstood,hoWever,that Various changes ing the proper concentration totheir Work, i th i Shape nd g t ofth 7 and as a result of which greaterg h o parts tegether withfthe cooperation therebe- I, c h e frequentlyout h are necessary tween may be made, Without departing from as We a opieces 010th being laid the spirit and scope'of theinvention, as herein-Witll the nap in the Wrong direction. This s t f th I I r "results' ina substantial amount of waste at- I st-h drawings, forming a part f thiso the present time, and under these conditions jli ti of procedure,andit has been found substan- Fi u e 1 is a id l ati f a tti y pQ to gete cutters'to v table, having the present invention applied the P pattentiQZ-l to these matters in thereto, and showing several layers ofcloth, 'derto prevent the-Waste and therebyobtain f d t ined l th d l fth a the highest efiicien 1n -roductmn with length laid on the table andhavingthe ends l f l Q ti 7' severed, the carriage being at the rear endof T1113 lnventmn 1S ne to replace the its stroke ready to'startthe'forward motion Cutter one two helpers w i are for supplying the nextlayerof cloth and the usually necessary to auton-latlcahy l end thereofto the holding mechanism, preil lir-edeternimed number Offdobh paratorvto layinv it on topof the several in superposed relatlon on a cuttingtable d .t. d u tab} I ready for cutting in accordance with suiting 3 53% mi 8 f f th 7 patterns. In operation, the machine Will- 2 l a font 910ml Y Q carnage structure forming the sub ect matter holding device onthe end of the table sothat of 1 P Y I I I I I the ends are all placedin coincident relation, g 3 a p vlew p the ge,

after which the machine lays out apredeter I Figure 1s a side elevationof the rn g I mined length :of'the 1 cloth and through the 1111112 to aWn in F gure 1, on the en-- ope-ration of suitable mechanism] cuts the.larged scale, as shown 1n Flgures 2 and 3. ion I line l414 of Figure 12.

Figure 5 is a sectional View, taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views, similar to Figure 5, showingprogressive operations K in presenting a cloth end to the holding mechanism, prior to the operation of the device to laythe cloth on the tablein the return stroke tails of construction thereof, taken on the .line99 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is a sectional view, taken on the line 101O of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a isectional view, taken on the line 1111 of Figure 9, thescale being enlarged.

Figure 12 is a sectional view, taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 4.

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken on the line 1313 of Figure 12.

Figure 1 1 is a sectional view, taken on the I Figure 15 is a rearelevation of the control disc forgoverningthe operation of the carriageand stopping the same after a predetermined'number of layers of clothhave been placed in superimposed relation.

Figure 16 isa sectional view, taken on the line 1616 of Figure 12.

Figure 17 is a sectionalview, taken on the line 17 17 of Figure 12.

Figure 18 is a sectional view, taken on the line 18-18 of Figure 5.

Figure 19 is an inside elevational view of one of the movable blockmembers, showing the cloth guiding tongue and the operating mechanismtherefor.

Figure 20 is a sectional View, taken onthe line 20 2 O of Figure 12.Figure21 is a perspective view of the operating plunger on the carriage,movable to operate the cloth holding mechanism in feeding a cloth endinto said mechanism,

Figure 22 isia front elevational view of one end of the carrier, showingone of the movableblock members carried thereby and a dash potattachment in'longitudinal section for controlling the lowering movementof the block-members and parts carried thereby up on release of the pawlmechanism shown in Figure 18.

Referring'particularly to Figure 1, a cutting table is indicated atl,which is of the usual construction already known in the art, and whichfor the purpose of this invention is provided with channels at oppositeedges thereof as shown in Figure 2, formed with rack teeth as indicatedat 2, and more particularly shown in Figure 4c.

The mechanism forming the subject matter of this invention, is mountedon this cutting table 1, and includes the holding mechanism, which isgenerally indicated by'the numeral 3 in Figure 1, while a movablecarriage mechanism, which forms a cloth folding feeding and operatingmechanism for the entire device is indicated at 1,.referring to thecondinal bar members 6 joined by the vertical bar members '2' at aplurality of points inter mediate-the enos as well as at the oppositeend portions. A suitable motor platform 8 extends between said frames 5and serves to mount the same in spaced parallel relation incooperationwith the front connecting bar 9 joining the upper front corners of theside frames. At the rear ends of the side frames and between the upperportions is mounted the cloth holding basket 10, secured thereto in anysuitable manner and in which the cloth to be cut in predeterminedlengths is posiv tioned after being folded according to the usual bookfold method.

The free end of the cloth in the basket 10 is drawn upwardly and passedover the guide roller 11 which is provided with annular flanges at theopposite ends and j ournaled in bearings 12 in suitable bearing brackets13,

positioned on the upper edges of the side frame members 5 as clearlyshown in Figure l. The cloth is then drawn over this flanged roller 11,to the forward end of the'frame and in this movement it is received inthe guide tray 14-, extending between the brackets 13 and from theforward portion of the bearings 12 to the forward end of the side framesas shown in Figure 5. At this point, the cloth is passed over the idlerroller 15 and downwardly to-the flanged guide roller 16 carried by themovable cloth feeding mechanism indicated generally by the numeral 1?.This movable cloth feeding mechanism includes a pair of end members 18which are slidably mounted on the inner sides of the movable blockmembers 19, movably mounted in any desired manner, on the front uprights7 of the side frame members 5. These movable block members 19 may beassembled on vertical bars 7 of the side frame in any suitrespectively,for driving'tlie s able manner that may be found most expedient. Figure19 illustrates the cloth feeding mechanism in which alower tongue 21joins the end members 18 and an upper tongue member 22is formed atopposite ends with extensions'23, pivotally mounted at 2e on the endmembers 18. Spring latches 25 engage the notches formed in the portion.23

. of themovable upper tongue member and are adapted to hold it in adacent but spaced parallel relation with respect to thelower tonguemember 21. This upper tongue is formed thro-ughoutitssurface with aplurality of small humps such as indicated at-26, in Figure 19, whichhave shoulders at their forward ends and are adapted to prevent theretraction of the cloth after passing through the tongue member, and toassist in holding the cloth end, after: cut in potill sitlon forpresentation to the holding mechanism 3, when beginning the layingof thenext,

layer on the cutting table.- The'dotted lines in Figure 19 illustratethe raised position; of

the movable upper tongue member 22, which permits the insertion of a newcloth end between said members. Idler supporting wheels 27 are rotatablymountedon suitable stub axles 28 carried by the front portion of thelower longitudinal bars 6 of the side frames5 and are provided withtoothed peripheries engaging in the rack teeth 2 formed inthecuttingtable while the main supporting and driving [wheels -29 formedwith toothed peripheries riding in the racks 2 in the cutting table arevmounted upon the suportinr shaft 30" 'ournaled ina ")air of -o P o l l P-pOS1t vertical-bars. spaced from the rear end of the frame and, atopposite sides of the basket 10 as clearly shown in Figure 4. I The-sideframe 5 at the left hand side of Figure 2, which will hereinafter betermed the left side frame is provided with hearings on thev-erticalbars 7 rotatablyi supporting the drive shaft 31 carrying thebevelledgear' 32intermeshing with bevelled gearteeth '83, onthe lefthand drive wheel-29-as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, the bearingsfor the shaft 31 being indicated at 3. This shaft 81 carries a pair ofspacedzdrive pulleys35, between. which is an idler pulley .36 andaligned with these three pulleys on anintermediate shaft 37 journaled inbearings 3 its the bevelled gear connection indicated-at 42, from thedrive shaft 48 of the reducing gearingindicated generally at a l of anysuitable type for reducing the speed ratio between the drive shaft 48and the shaft 45, connected by a suitable coupling with the armatureshaft 46, of the electric motor 427 This electric motor is suitablymounted on the motor platform '8 secured between the side frames asclearly shown in Figure 8 and is of suitable power with suitable speed,preferably of the constantspeed type of motor for producing a uniformmovement of the carriage on the cutting table, throughout its stroke ofmovement. The shifting ofthe belts O'a-nd ll controls the direction ofmovement of the carriage'on the cutting table, and in order that themotion ofthe carriage in eithcrdh rection may be suitably controlled, anoper-e ating lever 48 is pivotally mounted on the left side frameasshownin Figure 4 at 419, andcarries, through a suitable pivotalconnection therewith, the belt shiftinglever 50, provided with su tablefingers engagingat opposite sides ofthe belts 40 and ll and operable inits movementin a plane parallel with the left side frame to shiftthebelts l0 and a1, sothat either of the belts may be cooperation withone of the placed in driving drive pulleys 35. J i

For automatically controlling the opera ion of the lever 48, a pairofshifting lugs 51 are removably and adjustably mounted on the edgeportion of the cutting table, so that theymay be set to operate thecarriage mecha-- nism 4: to changeits direction of motion at apredetermined pointin order that cloth will be laid on the cuttingtableto the desired lengthand automatically, cut 'as'fwill hereinafterappear. I v a A cam shaft 53-extends between theside frames 5' and isrotatably mounted in apair of the vertically extending bars 7 of theside frame, clearlyisliown in Figures 3 and 4. Operating scamshe arerigidlymounted on the camshaft 53 at the'inner sides of the uprights 7of the side frames,;while' a ratchet ,wheel 551smountedon the outer endofgthe" g cam shaft beyond the-left side frame,

shown in Figure 4c. As more particularly illustrated in Figure lg, thisratchetwhecl is provided with a hubv portion 55 which has a' nair of"diametrically opposite recesses56,

with, which cooperates the pivoted pawl 5'?- nonnted on the left sideframe 5, and norm- 7 ally spring pressed intoposition by'the leaf Qspring 58ysecured to the vertical bar ofthe side frame, asshownin Figure4c.

As shown 1n Figure 4;, the left s de frame 5 has one vertical bar;adjacent the forward end of the frame provided with an eiitension 59extending rearwardly on which :is pivotally mounted the operatingquadrant 60.

This operating quadrant 'is illustratedin d etail' ine FigureQO and atthe forward end Figure 4:.

thereof has a yieldable racl l 6l provided with ratchet teeth forcooperation with the ratchet wheel 55, so that in an arcuate movement ofthe quadrant 6O downwardly from the position shown in Figure lto thatshown in Figure 8, the cam shaft will be rotated one-half a revolutionto produce an operation which will hereinafter be set forth. Thisoperation of the quadrant member is effected through the medium of thelever 62, connected to the end of "he belt shifting lever. This lever 62is slidably mounted in the bearing 63, on the projection 59 from thevertical bar 7 of the side frame, as shown in The free end of this lever62 is provided with a laterally extending head, operating in the slot64, extending in close relation along the upper edge of the quadrant 60.A pin and slot connection 65 serves to limit the operation of thequadrant member 60, but is sufiicient to permit its motion for rotatingthe cam shaft 53 a one-half revolution. The yieldable mounting of therack 61, permits the return upward motion of the quadrant member 60,from the position shown in Figure 8 to that shown in Figure 4, withoutafiecting or rotating the cam shaft 53. The face of the quadrant 6Oadjacent to the side frame 5 is formed with a recess at 66 in which ismounted a resiliently projected pawl 67', movable in a path to enthemovable blocks 19.

gage the free end of the pawl 57, so that in the downward movement ofthe quadrant 60, the pawl 67 will engage the pawl 57 and move the sameon its pivot so as to release the ratchet wheel for rotation by theoperation of the quadrant through a onehalf revolution as above stated.

The operating cams 54: are adapted to engage the cross heads 68 foroperating the plungers 69, of. which they form a part, as shown inFigure 21. These plungers 69 carrying the cross heads 68 are slidablymounted in guideways 70 as shown in Figure 18, formed in the movableblock members 19, while the operating slides 1 of shorter length thanthe plunger 69 are slidably mounted in the guide ways 70 alongside andinwardly of the plungers 69. members 71 are provided with inwardlyprojecting studs on the inner faces thereof as shown in Figure 19, withwhich engage the forked ends of the levers 7 2, pivoted intermediatetheir ends on the inner faces of The opposite ends are forked asindicated at 76. which extend over the shaft supporting the guide roller16 of the cloth feeding mechanism so that by the movement of the levers72011 their pivots by the operation of the slides 71, the cloth feedingmchanism will be moved forwardly or rearwardly to the position asindicated in Figuresfi to 8 inclusive, for feeding a cloth end to theholding mechanism 3 in the man ner which will be hereinafter described.

ing the cutter bar.

The slide 6 The forward ends of the plungers 69 are formed with enlargedheads 74:, so that the heads 74 and the cross heads 68 extend to theinner side of theplunger 69 to form stops for engaging the ends of theoperating slides 71. It will be noted from the several views that theoperating slides 71 are shorter in length than the distance between thehead 7d and the cross head 68 on the plunger member, so that apredetermined amount of lost ting lever 77, having one end pivotallyconnected to the control lever 48 and the opposite end slidablyextending through the projection on the bearing 84, on the left sideframe 5, while the cross head portion of this T- shaped lever 77 isslotted, as indicated at 78, for slidably receiving the arm 79, to whichis pivotally connected the operating hook 80, as shown in Figure 4. Thisarm 7 9 is slidably mounted in the bearing 81, on one of the movableblock members 19, as shown in Figure 4, while a leaf spring 82 normallymoves the operating hook in one direction on its piv- 0t, in order thatit will engage with the shoulders of the star wheel 83 provided foroperat- This star wheel 83 is adapted to operate the slidable platemember 84 carried by the movable block member on the left hand sideframe 5', to one end of which is secured the cutter bar 86. The oppositeend of the cutter bar 86 is secured to the pivoted link 87, mounted onthe front face of the movable .block member 19 on the right hand sideframe 5 as shown in Figure 2. The cutter bar 86 is slotted adjacent itsends at 86 to receive the securing studs 86 which rigidly mount the baron the plate member 84 and quadrant 87 respectively. The slots 86 permitthe proper setting of the cutter bar for smooth operation. The cutter 86is given a slicing motion through the medium of the pivoted quadrant 87,and the curved slot formation indicated at 88, in the plate member 84.Coil springs'89 are attached to plate member 84 and quadrant 87, and tothe block members 19 at the opposite ends to normally raise the cutterbar 86 into the position shown in Figure 2, ready for a subsequentcutting operation. It will be seen that in the operation of the'sta-rwheel 83 forcing the block 84 downwardly, the cutter bar 86 will begiven a sweeping motion downwardly in order to produce a draw out on thefabric immediately at the forward end of the' cloth feeding tongues. I

A maincontrol mechanism adapted to stop the operation of the machinewhen a predetermined number of layers have been piled on the cuttingtable and out to thepredetermined. length desired is provided forcontrol- ,ling the operation of the motor 4:? 'andis indicated generallyby the numeral 90 in Figure 4, and shown in Figures 12, 15,16 and 1'7,in detail. This mechanism includes a suitable switch mechanism includinga stationary 1 contact 91 and a resilient movable contact 92, mounted ona post of insulating material 93, secured to the extension 59 on theleft side frame heretofore described. These contact arms are providedwith opposed contact points adapted to normally engage with oneures 1and 12 and is provided with an operating pin 96, adapted to engagethecurved head 94 of the movable contact 92 and inpassing thereunder toraise said movable contact for disengaging the contact point thereonfrom the contact point of the stationary switch member 91 and in thisway open-the circuit to theniotor 47 and stop the operation of themachine. The disc 95 is "rotatable through the operation of theresilient pawl 97 mounted on the quadrant member 60,

through the lateral project-ion 98, thereon, which operates through theslot 99, in the eX- tension 59 on the frame, as illustrated in Figure15.- This resilient pawl member is adapted to engage'with thecircumferentially' arranged and equally spaced pins 100, so as toproduce a step by step rotation-of the disc 95 ineach operation of thequadrant member 60. The switch operating pin 96 is disposed incircumferential relation with the pins 100 as clearly shown in Figure 15and with. which the resilient operating pawl 97 is adapted to.

engage in the operation of the disc-95. The

a shaft 101 mounts the control disc 95, as shown in Figures 16 and 17and isprovided at the j end with an operating handle 102, 'by which thedisc may be manually rotated, so that this disc-may be set for a desirednumber of layers to be placed on the cutting table, in

order that the-machine may beset and 'start-' ed and thereafter operateautomatically until a predetermined number of layers of cloth are piledin superimposed relation and cut to a predetermined length on thecutting table, at

which time the control disc will operate to stop the machine. The disc95 is permitted to rotatein one direction only through the me-' dium ofa pawl 103, shown particularly in Figures 12 and16, which cooperateswith rack teeth formed on the face of the disc 95, as

shown in Figure 16, adjacent to the extension 59.

em: to the extension 59 and are-adapted to regis er with the opening 10411111116 bracket 105, secured on the 6111361151011 59, of the left sideframe, so as to indicate the settingof the d1sc95 for a desirednumber'of cloth Circumferentially arranged numerals are provided on theface of the disc ad a-:

layers to, be cut and piled on the cutting table. v v

The members 19 andass'ociated parts are adapted for step-by-step raisingor upward ,motion, on the front upright 7 of the side frame and for thispurpose, these forward uprights are provided wlth a series of ratchetteeth indicated at 106, in Figure 18, with which cooperates a springpressed pawl 107, mounted in a recess formed in the slotted portion 20of block member 19 and opening to-' ward uprights 7. These'pawls 10?support the block members 19 in any position of ad- I justinent in amannerwhich will ,p'resently appear.

Now referring more particularly to the cloth holding mechanismindicated. at 3'in F igure 1, and with particular reference to" Figures'9 to 11 inclusive, themain housing 108 ofinverted U-shaped constructionis pro,-

vided with channel portions 109 formed at thefree ends ofth'e bottomadapted to fit on the cutting table *1. Suitable means may be employedin securing the ends 109 rigidly to the cutting table 1. The sides ofthis housing 108 are provided with guides 110 for the movable housing111 of the holding maria ingsha-ft112', for the mechanism adapted tohold the ends of the cloth in place on thecutting table 1. A pawlandra'tchet mechanism shown in Figure 11 includes the ratchet wheel 113mounted on the shaft 112, andthe pawl ,7

11 4 pivotally mounted onthe'topside ofthe housing 111, which permitsrotation of the V shaft 112 in one direction only. The oppo site ends ofthe. shaft 112 are journaled in hearings in the ends of the housing111'," and adjacent which are mounted the pinions 115 i as shown inFigures 9 and 10, with which the teeth formed on block members 76 areadapted to mesh as shown in Figure 10, so that in the operation of theblock members from the position shown in Figure 10,-to the,

position shownin Figure 7, a one-halfre'vo-v lution of the shaft 112willloe produced, in order that the parts of the holding mecha nism willoperate in a manner as will now appear. p r i In orderfto providefor'themeshingbetween the teeth of the 'blockmember'r'ti and thepinions' 115, when operated by the plungers toward the back of thecasing -111,'and.

nism in whichis rotatably mounted an operat j permit the return movementto the position shown in Figure 10, under the influence of the spring116 without engaging the teeth of the pinion 115, there is provided aspecial operating mechanism for the blocks, which includes slotted guideledges 117 with which the projections 118 spaced unequal distances areadapted to cooperate and which are formed on the block members 76 on the0pposite sides thereof as shown in Figure 9.

These projections 118 are adapted to register with the slotted guideledges 117 in the forward and rear positions or the positions at theopposite ends of the stroke of movement of the block members 76, so asto permit the movement of the projections 118 from the lower side to theupper side, or vice versa of the guide ledges 117. A continuous guideledge'119 is provided inspac-ed parallel relation above the slottedguide ledges 117 so as to limit the upward movement of block members 76in their operation.

The block member 76, shown in Figures 5 and 10 is in position ready toaroduce a onehalf rotation of the shaft 112 through the operationthereof by the plunger 69. As the bloclr member approaches the rear endof; a stroke of movement in effecting this operation of the shaft 112,the rear end thereof rides upwardly on the elevating member 120 slidablymounted in the projection 121 on the casing 111, and pressed upwardly bythe coil spring 122. As the projections 118 ride opposite theirrespective slots in the guide ledges 117, the elevating member 120 willforce the block members 76 upwardly until the projections 118 strike theupper ledge 119, at which time the. teeth will move out of mesh with theteeth of the pinion 115, and the spring 116 will return the block memberto the forward end of the casing. 111, where the projections 118 willregister with their respective parts in the ledge 117 and drop to theposition shown in Figure 10 concluding one cycle of operation. The blockmembers at the opposite ends of the casing .111 operate in synchronismin the manner as above described. Suitable retaining plates '123 formedas illus trated in Figure 9 provide the guide ways for the block members76 to slidably retain them in position to operate as above described.

In the lower portion'of the housing 111 is mounted a stationarysupporting shaft 124, on which are mounted a plurality of pairs ofrotatable cloth holding and engaging ele ments, in which correspondingelements of theipairs are indicated by the numerals 125 and 126respectively. Each of the cloth en gaging elements 125 and 126 areindependently rotatable on the stationary shaft 124, and are formed withpinion teeth at their adj acent ends as illustrated at 127 in Figure 9.The central portion of each element is formed with. a proj ection havingan arcuate cloth engaging foot 128. The opposite end of each clothholding element of a pairis formed with a ratchet l29-with which engagesa hold corresponding cloth holding elements of a pair indicated bythenumerals 125 and 126. These operating gears 132 and 133 are providedwith gear segment sections 134 in which a pair of said segment sectionsare provided on the periphery of each operating gear at a distance ofone-fourth of the circumference apart, so that thesegments 134 on eachoperating gear are formed within one-half of the circumference of saidgear, while the. gears 132 and 133 are so mounted on the shaft 112 thattheir gear segments are in diametrically opposite; positions, so thatone of the cloth engaging elements will be operated through one wholerevolution of movement alternately, with the other, in each, pair.v Thisis to obtain 7 a predetermined operation of the cloth holding mechanism,which will now be described.

For the purpose of describing the operationof the machine, particularreference will be had to Figures 1 and 5 to 8 inclusive.

With the machine constructed as above described, a bolt of fabric foldedin the well known book fold manner in which the layers are in zig-zagrelation ontop of one another,

is placed in the basket 10 and the end fed up over the flanged guideroller 11, downwardly along the tray 141-, over roller 15, and downthrough the feeding. mechanism over roller 16, and through channels 21and 22, with the free edge terminating adjacent the free edge of thetongues of the feeding mechanism. This is accomplished by moving theupper tongue member 22 upwardly to the dotted line position as shown inFigure 19, in order to insert the end of the cloth between the tongues.The forward edges of these tongues are recessed as indicated at 135, inline with the positions of opposed cloth engaging elements 125 and 126so as to permit the projection of parts of the ton ues between thesepairsof engaging elements, so that the end of the cloth may beeffectively fed into the cloth holding mechanism. WVith the parts in theposition shown in Figures 1 and 4 and downwardly for releasing the pawl58 from engagement with the recess 56 in the ratchet wheel 55, so that aslight rotation of the cam shaft 53 will move the cam 54- engaging andholding the plungers in position as shown in F igure 4, upwardly topermit the rearward movement of the mechanism'with the forward movementof the cloth feeding mech-- anism to the position shown in Figure 5. Inthe further motion of the 1 carriage l toward the cloth holdingmechanism 3, to the position shown in Figure 6, a further rotation ofthe cam shaft 53 will be effected by the operation'of the quadrantmember 60 which will move the cams 54 to the position shownin Figure 6and project the plunger mechanisms forwardly,'so that the angularlyformed heads 74: will engage in the sockets 7 5 of the block members? 6,and move these block membersto produce a retation of the operating shaft112 of the cloth holding mechanism for bringing one set of rack teeth 131 on the operating gears 132 into engage ment with the pinions 127 onthe elements; 125 of each pair so that the cloth engaging feet 128thereof will beimoved' one-half a revolution to engage and seat on thetop of the end portion of the clothcai ied by the feeding mechanism 17and heldbetween the tongues 21 and 22 by engaging the portion of thecloth extending across the recessed portion of the tongues as indicatedat 135 and through the weight of the housing-andits associated partsfirmly press this end of'the cloth toward the cutting table 1, which ithas been found will firmly hold the end of the cloth in the properposition as presented to the cloth holding mechanism by the carriagemechanism 1, as'shown in Figure 6.

At this juncture,the carriage l moves still further forward, and inthis'further'forward motion, the cam shaft 53 will be rotated throughthe remainder ofa one-halt revolu- .tion to position the parts as shownin Figure 7. It will be noted that the motion from the position shown inFigure 5 to that shown in Figure 6 does not affect the cloth feedingmechanism due to .the'lost motion between the operating slide 71 and theplunger member 69, while in the operation of the parts from the positionshownin Figure 6 to that shown in Figure 7, the cloth feeding mechanismis moved from its forwardly projected position to the and the cloth endis effectively held by the holdingmechanism. In this furthermovement oftheparts to the position shownin rearwardly' projected position,

Figure 7, it will be noted that the plunger mechanism is fully projectedso that the block member 7 6 is moved to the rear position in gagementfrom under the end of cloth just presented to the cloth holdingmechanism, and to the upward position as shown in Figure 7, ready for asubsequent"operation to engagea new end of cloth. I Now that the end ofthe cloth is held by the holding mechanism 3, as heretofore describedand the parts positioned as shown in Figure 7, the full stroke ofoperation of the controllevel d8 will have been completed; This positions the parts as illustrated in Figure 8, that is, the cuttingmechanism will havethe bar member 77 and the operating hook means 80moved so that the hook member will engage over the adjacent shoulder onthe spur wheel 83 as shown in Figure 8, while the operating quadrant 60will be at the lower limit of its the ratchet teethon the gear The pawl-5'? will hold this gearand the cam shaft in the position shown. inFigure 8. The belt shifting lever 50 will have, in'the operation rso j Iof the arrn l8 shifted the belts 450 anddl so i that the belt 40 will beon the idler pulley and the belt 41 on the reverse pulley, so as v topermit the operation of the carriage'mech anism 4 from the positionshown in Figure 8, toward ltsrear limit of movement as shown inFigure 1. ln this operation of the parts,

the carriage moving rearwardly with the end of cloth held by the holdingmechanism 3 will pull out a length of cloth and'evenly lay the same onthe cutting table 1,either directly on the table or on top of the.layers already positioned onthe table. 6

' As the carriage reachesiits other/limit of movement shown in Figure 1,the arm 48 v I will engage therear stop 51 as shown in Figure 1 andbemovedfromlthe position shown in Figure Sto that shown in Figure 4t. inthis motion, the operating quadrantGO' will be returned to the positionshown in Figure 4:: from that of Figure '8 while the cutting mechanismwill be operated sojthat thespur' wheel will. be rotated one-fourth arevolution which will force the block'member 84 downwardly and producethe sweeping cutting operation of the cutter bar 86, so

that the length of cloth laid on the table may), be cutfrom the end heldin the holding mechanism, at the predetermined l'engtlifor'wliicli thestop 51 is set, which for instance maytbe what is referred toinjthe a-rtas a three suit by the cutter inorder that'he may out three:

length, that is, a three suitlength is desired faces.

suits from the predetermined length of the cloth with the least amountof waste. One,

two, four or five suit lengths may be cut by,

the operation of the mechanism, if desired,

through the setting of the stop mechanism 51 at the proper point, inaccordance with the scale shown and indicated at 136 on the edge portionof the cutting table. Any other length of cloth desired may also be cutby properly positioning the stop on the cutting table. This operation ofthe lever 48 will tion by the resilient p vls or latches 107, as

shown in Figure 18, and above described. In producing the upward motionof these block members 19, a cooperation between the plunger 69 and theblock member 76 is utilized, through the formation of the socket 75 andthe head 7 i on the plunger with angular angular faces cooperating toraise the block members 19 a corresponding amount and thereby alwaysmaintain the feeding mechanism 17 in spaced relation above the layers ofcloth placed in superposed relation on the cutting table, as'clearlyshown in Figure 1,in order that the cloth cut and laid on the'table willnot be interfered with in the subsequent placing of other layers insuperposed relation thereon. The elevating member 120 assists in thisraising operation. That is, when the plungers are fully engaged withblocks 7 6, feet 128 have engaged on top of the cloth ends which raisesthe housing slightly with each additional thickness of cloth, throwingthe angular faces out of alignment and giving the plungers an upwardlifting movement to realign said faces, while the upward movement of theblock members 76 at the end of the stroke, also aids in raising theblocks 19. The power feed cable for the electric motor is illustrated inFi ure 1 at 137 which may be controlled by a manually operated switch138. In order to provide for the reciprocat ing motion of the carriage,the cable is formed with divided conductors 189 which if desired aremovable on the supporting wire 140, so that the carriage may freely moveback and forthand proper cable connections maintained with a source ofpower and the carriage.

, bers 19 as shown in Figure 22.

At the end of the forward stroke movement of the carriage 4 as shown inFig' 'ures 7 and 8, these angular faces cooperates so that as thehousing 111 is raised to the thicknesses of cloth held on the table, the

In order to prevent the sudden dropping of the block members 19- whichis likely to damage the parts carried thereby and the machine, at theend of a carrying and cu ting operation by the machine, through therelease of the latches 127, it may be found desirable to provide acushioning mechanism for this lowering motion of the block mem- Thismechanism includes a dash pot structure having a cylinder 1 11 mountedon a projection or supporting bracket 142, secured to the side frame 5of the machine. A piston is mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder141 and has its piston rod 1&3 extenoin g through the upper end thereofand in slidable relation and provided with a pair of stops 144: inspaced relation (hereon for cooperation with the bracket 1 15 secured tothe block members 19. in the upward motion of the block members 19, thebracket member 1415 will engage the upper stop 144 and move the pistonpwardly in the cylinder letting a charge of air into the cylinderthrough. the air open; ing in the cap on the upper end thereof, whichwill pass around or through the piston mechanism in any suitable manneras well known in the art, s'uchas inan ordinary tire pump. In theconstruction of these devices, While in the downward motion of the block19, the bracket 145 will engage the lower stop member 14 and the pistonwill then, through the gradual release of air by the vent 14 6 cushionthe downward movement of the block members and prevent the suddendropping of the same. In each operation of the quadrant members 60, theresilient pawl 97 is operated to move the disc 95 one step of movement.Should three layers be desired to be laid on the table and cut to apredetermined length, the handle 102 is operated to position the numeral3 for view through the opening 104, so that the carriage mechanism awill reciprocate three times in each direction to lay and cut the threelengths of cloth on the cutting table in superimposed relation and asthe carriage moves toward the holding mechanism to present the end ofthe fourth length, it will be seen that as the parts move to theposition shown in Figure 8, the rotation of the quadrant member to theposition shown will rotate the disc 95 to move the projection or stopmember 96 into engagement with the resilient switch member 92 and breakthe circuit to the electric motor 17 for thus stopping the machine.Should a greaternumber of layers of cloth be desired on the cuttingtable, the disc member 95 is rotated by operating handle 102 to positionthe desired number to view through the opening 10%. In this wayautomatic operation of the machine is obtained, which operation willresult to lay a predetermined number of cloth layers on the table andcut the out the predetermined length cutting the same sameto thepredetermined length to which the stops 51 are set regardless ofthe'starting position of the carriage mechanism 4. The mechanism will,always stop in the position shown in Figure 8, adjacent to the clothholdingmechanism 3. i

It will thus be clear from the foregoing description that acomparatively simple and efficient mechanism is provided with the partsproperly timed and cooperating to hold and feed cloth into a suitableholding mechanism which is automatically operated to firmly grip thecloth and hold the same on the table while-[the carriage mechanism movesawayfrom the holding mechanism and lays at the desired length throughthe operation of the cutter bar 86. In this way a waste of material isprevented through thecutting of a greater amount of material for acertain number of suit-s than is necessary and often done by cutters,when-manual labor is used, through inadvertence and carelessness, and inaddition the nap of the cloth is always maintained in the same directionfor the reason that the bolt of cloth in thebasket of the machine isnever touched from the .beginning to the finishing operation of the machine. In addition, the operation of the machine to produce any desiredlength of cloth and any number of lengths in superimposed relation isentirely automatic by the proper setting of the parts and'thecontrol-mechamsm. I

The particular constructionand operation of the cloth holding mechanismforms an important feature of this invention aside from those abovementioned. I

7 What is claimedis: I 1

1. In a cloth handling machine,a table, a cloth end holding mechanism,and means having movement on said table for feeding cloth ends andoperating said mechanism to gri said ends, adapted to automatically layan out predetermined independent lengths of cloth on said table. I a

2. In a. cloth handling machine, an automatically operable grippingmechanism, and

' rocable cloth carrier operable to feed cloth ends to the holder, andlay cloth length'son a means. reciprocable relative to said mechanismadapted to feed, lay, and cutautomatically independentpredeterminedlengths of cloth in its movement relative to said mechanism the nap onall cloth layers being unidirectional. I I i i 3. In combination, asupport,'a cloth holder thereon, and means for feeding cloth to saidholderop'erable to automatically lay and cut predetermined lengthssuperimposed relation onsaid support; I 4. In combination, a clothholder having movable cloth engaging elements, and cloth carrying meansoperable to feed independent cut cloth ends to said holder in coincidentrelation and operate said engaging elements.

5. In combination, a: cloth holder having lengths.

movable cloth engaging elements, means operable to feed cloth ends tosaid holder,

means for operating said engaging elements to grip the cloth ends, andmeans for operating the first mentioned means to automatically lay andcut predetermined lengths of cloth on a support having cut ends retainedin said holder in coincident relation.

6. In combination, cloth holding means, reciprocable cloth carryingmeans, -means "carried'by the'last named means for feeding cloth endsinto said holding means, means operable in the reciprocation of saidcarrying means for cutting cloth in predetermined lengths, and operatingmeans for the carry-- ing means and the cutting means.

In combination, cloth holding means,

reciprocating cloth carrying'means, means on the last named means forpositioning for'presenting cloth ends tosaid holding 7 means carried bythe second mentioned 'means, means associated with thesecond men"- Itioned means for operating the holding means to grip presented'clothends,' a cutter on the carrying means, means for operating said carryingmeans, and means operable with the carryingmeans for controlling theoperation thereof and adapted to operate said holding meansv and cutterin timed relation with said carrying means to cut cloth in predetermined1 9. In combination, a cloth holder, a re ciprocable cloth carrieroperable to feed cloth ends to the holder andlay cloth lengths on asupport, a cutter, and means operable for governing the movement of thecarriery'oper ating the cloth holder and cutter in predeter-- minedtimed sequence to obtain predeter- V mined lengths'ofcloth laid on thesupport; 10. In combination, a cloth holder, a recip- 11. Incombination, a table, a cloth holder on the table, amovable clothcarrier on the table, means on the. carrier to present cloth ends to theholder, cutting means, means for moving the carrier, and means operablein the movement'of the carrier for operating the means for presentingcloth ends, and the cutting means ina predeterm ned manner to lay andcut predetermined cloth lengths on the table.

12. In combination, a table, a cloth holder on the table,a movable clothcarrier on the table, movable means on the carrier for presenting clothends to the holder, means on the carrier for operating the holder togrip and hold said ends, a cutter operable on the car rier, means foroperating the carrier, means operable in the operation of thecarriercarrie'd thereby for operating the movable means for presentingcloth ends, the holder, and the cutter, and controlling means movable inthe operation of the carrier for producing timed operation of the partsto lay and cut predetermined cloth lengths on the table.

. 13. In combination, a table, a clothholder on the table, a movablecloth carrier on the table, cloth feeding means on the carrier operableto present cloth ends to the holder, means on the carrier for operatingthe holder to grip and hold said ends, a cutter operably mounted on thecarrier, means for operating the carrier, means operable in theoperation ofthe carrier for operating the cloth feeding means, theholder operating means and the cutter in timed sequence, and adapted tocontrol the movement of the carrier, and means operable by the lastnamed means controlling the operation of the means for operating thecarrier.

14:. In combination, a table, a cloth holder, a movable cloth carried onthe table operable to feed cloth to the hold-er and lay and cut lengthson the table, means for moving the carrier, means governing the operation of the-carrier for controlling the length of cloth laid and cut'onthe table, and operl ailing ans for the last named means adjusts ablymounted onthe table.

15. In combination, a table, cloth holding means on the table, clothcarrying and feeding means for feeding cloth ends to the holding means,and for laying and cutting predetermined lengths of cloth on the table,and means on the table for controlling the operation of the last namedmeans in a predetermined manner. I

16. In combination,a table, a cloth holder mounted on the tableincluding a. casing, a plurality of movable cloth engaging elementsmounted for movement in the casing relative' to the table, and operatingmeans for moving said elementsto engage cloth in a predetermined manner.7 V

17. In combination, a table, and a cloth holder mounted on the tablehaving a plurality of movable cloth engaging elements normally movabletoward said table and adapted for cooperation therewith to hold clothends laid on the table and simultaneously grip and hold a new clothendin substantially coincident relation to said laid ends.

18;. In combination, a table and a cloth holder mounted on' the tableincluding a casing, a housing movable in said casing, a plurality ofpairs of cloth engaging elements, the elements of each pair beingalternately operable for holding cooperation with the table, and meansfor operating said pairs of elements.

19. A cloth end holding mechanism comprising a casing adapted formounting on a cutting table, a housing movable in said casing relativeto the table, cloth engaging elements movably mounted in the housingadapted to engage and hold cloth ends on the table, and means foroperating said elements in a predetermined manner for engaging clothends.

20. A cloth feeding and carrying mechanism for cutting tables comprisinga frame, means movably supporting said frame on the table, operatingmeans for moving the mechanism on the table, means on the frame forsupporting cloth, cloth feeding means operable in the frame, a cuttermovably mounted. on the frame, and means operated in the movement ofsaid mechanism on the table for operating the cutter and feeding meansin predetermined timed relation.

' 21. In combination, a support, cloth holding means on said supporthaving a plurality of groups of cloth engaging elements: successivelyoperable to hold cloth ends on said support, and means for feeding clothends to said holding means and operating said engaging elements.

22. In combination, a cloth holder, means for automatically feedingcloth to said holder operable to lay predetermined lengths insuperimposed relation on a support,v and means controlling thelast-namedmeans for predetermining the number of layers placed on thesupport.

23. In combination, cloth holding means, automatically operable meansfor feeding clothto said holding means and lay predetermined lengths insuperimposed relation on a support, and means for automatically stoppingthe last-mentioned means after a predetermined cycle of operations.

24. In combination, cloth holding means, automatically operable meansfor feeding cloth to said vholding means and laying predeterminedlengths in superimposed relation on a support, stop means for thelast-mentioned means, and cutting means for cutting said cloth operatingin timed relation with the second-named means, said stop means beingadjustable and operable at the end of a predetermined laying and cuttingoperation.

a 25. In combination, cloth gripping means, movable means for feedingcloth into the gripping means, and means for stopping the operation ofthe movable means at the -end of a predetermined cycle of operation.v

a 5 rier in the reciprocation of said feeding means, and meanscontrolling the operation of said cloth feeding means.

27. In combination in a cloth handling machine, a movable carrier,reciprocable cloth.

feeding means on said carrier, and means operable in the movement of thecarrier for reciprocating said cloth feeding means to feed an end ofcloth outwardly from the carrier.

28. In combination in a cloth handling machine, a movable carrier,automatic means controlling movement of the carrier, and cloth feedingmeans reciprocable relative to the carrier for feeding an end of clothoutwardly from the carrier controlled by said automatic means.

29. In combination in a cloth handling machine, a movable carrier, meanscontrolling movement of the carrier, cloth gripping means for holding anend of the cloth during movement of the carrier, and cloth cutting meanson the carrier, said gripping and cutting means being operatedandcontrolled by the first named means.

30 In a cloth handling machine, a cloth holder formed for mounting on atable to hold the lengths of cloth at one end, movable cloth engagingand gripping elements carried thereby, and operating means for saidelements. f V 31. A cloth holder for cloth handling machines operable ona table for laying cloth lengths thereon, comprising a movable housingmounted on and normallymovable toward the'table, rotary cloth engagingand gripping elements mounted in said housing, and means for rotatingsaid elements to engage, grip and hold the cloth ends between saidelements and said table.

32. A cloth ,holder for cloth handling machines operable on atable forlaying cloth 35. In combination, a cloth holder for cloth handlingmachines having cloth engaging elements, reciprocating means carried bysaid cloth holder operably connected to sald' elements, and anautomatically operated carrier movable relative to said cloth holder forengaging and operating said reciprocating means and said elements.

36.'-A cloth laying machine comprlslng a cloth holding means, areciprocable carriage for carrying cloth, a reciprocable cloth feedingmechanism on the carriage, and means for operating said cloth feedingmechanism on engagement with said cloth holding means, and forsimultaneously operating the cloth feeding means to feed cloth ends intothe holding means. i

37. A cloth laying machine comprising a supporting table, a clothholding device on one end of said table, a carriage reciprocable on saidtable, operating means for the carriage, a control lever for saidoperating means, and adjustable stops on said table for engaging andoperating said control lever to control said operating means for causingreciprocating movement of the'carriage on the (able to and from thecloth holding device for cooperation therewith.

- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RUDOLPH A. OESMAN.

lengths thereon, comprising a plurality of independentrotary clothengaging elements, means for supporting said elements formovementnormally toward said table, and means 50 for operating said elements inindependent timed relation for engaging and holding clot-h ends on saidtable.

{33. A cloth holder for cloth handling machines, comprisingalternatelyoperable cloth engaging elements,'and means for operatingsaid elements to alternately engage and hold cloth lengths at one end.

34. A cloth holder for cloth handling machines operable on a table forlaying cloth 60 lengths thereon, comprising alternately operable-rotarycloth engaging elements, means supporting said elements for movement toward said table, and operating means therefor to move alternate elementsto engage and i 65 hold cloth against said table.

